A recent statement by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, praising the organisational strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has ignited a political firestorm, dividing opinions within Congress and drawing sharp reactions from BJP supporters.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore has sparked further outrage by equating the RSS with Al-Qaeda. Reacting to Singh's comment, Tagore asserted that the RSS is an organisation founded on hatred, drawing a comparison to Al-Qaeda. "The RSS is an organisation built on hatred, and it spreads hatred. There is nothing to learn from hatred. Can you learn anything from Al-Qaeda? Al-Qaeda is an organisation of hatred. It hates others. What is there to learn from that organisation?" Tagore told ANI.
Meanwhile, on Congress leader Manickam Tagore’s statement, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh says, "...People have expressed their own opinions. I don't want to say anything about this."
Earlier in the day, the Congress MP from Tamil Nadu shared a video of a "famous self-goal," seemingly directed at Digvijaya Singh, whose remark was widely interpreted as critical of the party.
On Saturday, Digvijaya Singh shared a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In the post, Singh lauded the RSS and BJP for their organisational strength, claiming they had transformed ordinary workers into influential political leaders.
"I found this picture on the Quora site. It is very impactful. It shows how an RSS grassroots volunteer and a Jan Sangh/BJP worker, who once sat on the floor at the feet of leaders, went on to become a state’s chief minister and the country’s prime minister. This is the power of organisation," Singh wrote, highlighting the RSS's ability to nurture political talent.
Singh's comment, which also suggested the need for reforms within the Congress, has sparked a divided response. While Shashi Tharoor has supported Singh, others, like Pawan Khera, have countered, stating, "There is nothing to learn from the RSS."
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BJP hits out at Manickam Tagore's remark
However, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla strongly condemned Tagore's comment, accusing Congress of indulging in "vote-bank politics."
"After insulting Hindus, Sanatan, Sena, and Bharat, now they are targeting a nationalistic organisation as well. In an organisation that has been working for over 100 years in service to the nation, they are calling it a terrorist group. Yet, they have nothing to say about the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. They have placed vote-bank politics above everything else," Poonawalla said.
On the other hand, Congress leader Salman Khurshid supported Tagore's statement, questioning the RSS's role as a social organisation. "If they (RSS) are a social organisation, then why do they try to influence the system in such a way that others cannot even function in a democracy?" Khurshid asked. "We have this question, and it is our resolve to expose the deception they are perpetrating on the people of India. We want to end this. We can respond to it and offer an alternative, because our vision, our thinking, and our message are far superior to theirs," he added.